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Protective effects of Syzygium cumini seed extract against methylmercury-induced sistemic toxicity in neonatal rats

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Abstract

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Sc) belongs to the medicinal plants with an important source of phenolic compounds. Sc has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methylmercury (MeHg), a highly toxic environmental pollutant, induces oxidative stress and dysfunction in many cell types. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous seed extract of Sc (ASc) on MeHg-induced toxicity in rats. Two-day-old rats (P2) received a single dose of MeHg (10 mg/kg) and two doses of ASc (0.9 mg/kg) per os. After two days, the effects of the treatment were investigated in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, kidney, liver and urine samples. Our results demonstrated that N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity in the kidney and urine, the lipid peroxidation levels in the liver and kidney samples, as well as the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in the hippocampus, kidney and liver were higher in MeHg-group when compared to the control group. The administration of ASc reverted the toxic effects of MeHg. It is noteworthy to observe that the main compounds present in the ASc, as gallic acid (the major component), chlorogenic acid and rutin, might be the responsible for such benefit, since they were found to display antioxidant properties.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Research Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Rio Grande do Sul) and supported by the Research and Graduate Provost Office (PRPPG –Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa - UFSM), Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil

    F. H. Abdalla, P. E. R. Bitencourt, K. S. De Bona, A. A. Boligon, M. L. Athayde & M. B. Moretto

  2. Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology, Health Science Center, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil

    L. P. Bellé, R. A. Zanette & M. B. Moretto

  3. Franciscan University Center––UNIFRA, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

    A. S. Pigatto

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  1. F. H. Abdalla
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  2. L. P. Bellé
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  3. P. E. R. Bitencourt
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  4. K. S. De Bona
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  5. R. A. Zanette
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  6. A. A. Boligon
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  7. M. L. Athayde
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  8. A. S. Pigatto
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  9. M. B. Moretto
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Correspondence to M. B. Moretto.

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Abdalla, F.H., Bellé, L.P., Bitencourt, P.E.R. et al. Protective effects of Syzygium cumini seed extract against methylmercury-induced sistemic toxicity in neonatal rats. Biometals 24, 349–356 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-010-9402-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-010-9402-5

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